Germany - Diversified perspectives on a colourful country

Don’t we just love our clichés … Beer in Germany was the topic of this year’s winner of the Germany Travel Writers’ Award Rick LeVert.

However, the Ireland-based travel writer whose feature “Beer country” was published in Connections (August/September 2007), the passenger magazine of Dublin airport, did not take the usual “Oktoberfest” approach.

On his beer rail trip through Germany from Dortmund in the country’s industrial heartland to picturesque Murnau in Bavaria he discovered all the secrets of Germany’s beer culture and turned his experience into an entertaining and insightful story, taking his readers on a journey of discovery and including lots of local characters.

Following the “Siren call of the Rhine” (Oxford Mail, 28 June 2007) made Jon Murray from the Oxford Mail this year’s runner up. Hiking on the Rheinsteig trail provided him with material for a light hearted and inspiring article featuring interesting little anecdotes.

The third prize has been awarded to Ben West who ventured “Into the East” (Scotland on Sunday, 07 January 2007) and discovered a region of Germany still largely unknown to the British traveller.

Udo Grebe, Director UK & Ireland of the German National Tourist Office, congratulates the winners who were awarded with their prizes during a ceremony at the Residence of the German Ambassador in London:

“Following the World Coup year 2006 which was immensely successful for Germany, we saw this year an increasing interest in exploring Germany from different perspectives which manifests itself in a diversified media coverage of our country. We would like to thank all the journalists who have written and reported on Germany throughout the year for their support and excellent work. Especially, we would like to congratulate the winners of this year’s Germany Travel Writers’ Award for their outstanding contribution to the success of the travel destination Germany.”

For further information visit Germany-tourism.co.uk.